Preview: Chelsea v. Hull City

The good thing about playing Hull is, they play to win. They are in their worst run of the season but they still play to win.

In the last 10 matches, they have drawn twice and lost eight. Playing at Stamford Bridge should not be a worry for them (anyone) anymore. Early this season, Hull’s win against Arsenal was what propelled their incredible winning run. Now, they could be hoping that a win against Chelsea would revive their top half dream.

A win at Stamford Bridge for Hull City? Not unthinkable, but Chelsea are fresh from the latest big team humiliation. We may not play like wounded animals anymore but we keep losing the big matches, we have to continue to win the other matches or end our campaign in March.

So dropping points tomorrow is unthinkable for Chelsea.

The comforting thing is that in the away fixture this season, when Hull were making headlines, we beat them 3-0 on their turf. Incidentally, we had just been beaten by Liverpool then, at home—ending the four-and-a-half year run.

Here again, having lost to Liverpool, Chelsea would look to batter Hull City. A comfortable win is very important. I say it’s going to be comfortable because based on form, it should be a comfortable win for us and we play Aston Villa next, at Villa Park.

Ricardo Quaresma could be making his debut tomorrow. I’m not sure if he will start but he is surely going to play a part and Scolari has confirmed that. Scolari has said that Quaresma is a better dribbler than anyone else in the team.

All eyes on the new boy.

He has given his typical first-day-in-new-club speech where he says what a great club Chelsea is and what a good opportunity he’s got. Where I have a problem is when he says he "admires" Kalou and Malouda.

I’m sure something’s lost in translation there. Check out this interesting piece on Quaresma.

When Cudicini left, one thing all of us feared is an injury to Cech. I’d say I even anticipated it. Cech will miss tomorrow’s match due to a niggle and he would be replaced by Hilario.

We have not been our defensive best this season (neither at our attacking best). With all those forgotten cleansheets and disastrous set pieces, the arrival of Hilario only makes me more concerned. I think Scolari would play an orthodox 4-3-3 with Quaresma and Kalou on either sides.

I think Anelka will start. Anelka has not scored since mid-December except the one against Southend but he would still start. Hope he makes a difference tomorrow.

My prediction is 2-1.